Business as Usual (EPMD album)
Business as Usual | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by EPMD | ||||
Released | December 18, 1990 | |||
Recorded | 1989-1990 | |||
Genre | Hip Hop | |||
Length | 51:18 | |||
Label | Def Jam/RAL/Columbia | |||
Producer | EPMD, DJ Scratch | |||
EPMD chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | link |
Entertainment Weekly | A[1] |
Los Angeles Times | link |
RapReviews | link |
Rolling Stone | [2] |
The Village Voice | C+[3] |
Business as Usual is the third album from Hip Hop duo EPMD, released December 18, 1990 and their first on leading rap label Def Jam as a result of being signed over (along with Nice & Smooth) from their former label, Fresh Records. This album was also the first release by Def Jam as an imprint under its new Rush Associated Labels subsidiary, which allowed founder Russell Simmons more control and more ownership over its material, as the masters for proper Def Jam releases at that time were primarily owned by Sony Music's Columbia Records. Business as Usual was not as acclaimed as their first two albums, but was not considered to be a failure either. One notable aspect here was the debut of future Hip Hop star Redman, who appears on the tracks "Hardcore" and "Brothers on My Jock". Three singles were released from the album, "Gold Digger", "Rampage (Slow Down, Baby)" featuring LL Cool J and "Give the People". In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums.
The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 7, 1991.
Track listing
# | Title | Performer (s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "I'm Mad" | EPMD | 3:41 |
2 | "Hardcore" | EPMD, Redman | 4:31 |
3 | "Rampage" | EPMD, L.L. Cool J | 3:51 |
4 | "Manslaughter" | EPMD | 4:38 |
5 | "Jane 3" | EPMD | 2:36 |
6 | "For My People" | EPMD | 3:03 |
7 | "Mr. Bozack" | EPMD | 2:45 |
8 | "Gold Digger" | EPMD | 5:11 |
9 | "Give the People" | EPMD | 3:36 |
10 | "Rap Is Outta Control" | EPMD | 3:09 |
11 | "Brothers on My Jock" | EPMD, Redman | 4:07 |
12 | "Underground" | EPMD | 3:30 |
13 | "Hit Squad Heist" | EPMD | 3:34 |
14 | "Funky Piano" | EPMD | 4:26 |
Samples
I'm Mad
- "Let's Take It to the Stage" by Funkadelic
- "Laid It" by Ohio Players
- "The Lovomaniacs" by Boobie Knight & the Universal Lady
- "Funky Drummer", "Hot Pants" and "The Payback" by James Brown
- "Paul Revere" by Beastie Boys
- "Fame" by David Bowie
Hardcore
- "Pride and Vanity" by Ohio Players
- "(Don't Worry) if There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go" by Curtis Mayfield
Rampage
- "Lord of the Golden Baboon" by Mandrill
- "Tramp" by Lowell Fulsom
- "Still Good - Still Like It" by B.T. Express
- "Window Raisin' Granny" by Gladys Knight & the Pips
- "The Symphony" by Marley Marl, Masta Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane
Manslaughter
- "Strange Games & Things" by Love Unlimited Orchestra
Jane 3
- "Get on the Good Foot" by James Brown
- "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex
For My People
- "You Can't Love Me if You Don't Respect Me" by Lyn Collins
- "UFO" by ESG
Mr. Bozack
- "Take Some...Leave Some" and "The Payback" by James Brown
- "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
Gold Digger
- "It's a New Day", "My Thang" and "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" by James Brown
- "I'll Do Anything for You" by Denroy Morgan
- "(Not Just) Knee Deep" by Funkadelic
- "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
- "A Fly Girl" by The Boogie Boys
Give the People
- "Give the People What They Want" by The O'Jays
- "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
- "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" by The Soul Children
- "Mona Lisa" by Slick Rick
- "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy
Rap Is Outta Control
- "State of the Union" by Ronald Reagan
- "I Bet You" by Funkadelic
Brothers on My Jock
- "Nautilus" by Bob James
- "Do the Funky Penguin (Part 2)" by Rufus Thomas
- "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" by James Brown
Underground
- "Keep on Truckin'" by Eddie Kendricks
- "Hydra" by Grover Washington, Jr.
- "Funky Man" by Kool & the Gang
Hit Squad Heist
- "Hot Pants" by James Brown
- "Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band
- "Bustin' Loose" by Chuck Brown
Funky Piano
- "Internationally Known" and "Step Off" by Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five
- "I'll Play the Blues for You" by Albert King
- "Public Enemy No. 1" and "Timebomb" by Public Enemy
- "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
- "Jam-Master Jay" by Run-DMC
- "Beauty and the Beat" by Salt-N-Pepa
- "Human Beat Box" by Fat Boys
- "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick
- "Pump Me Up" by Trouble Funk
- "Shortage of White People" by Richard Pryor
Album Chart Positions
Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | |||
1990 | Business as Usual | #36 | #1 |
Singles Chart Positions
Year | Song | Chart positions | ||
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
1990 | "Gold Digger" | #14 | #1 | #24 |
1991 | "Rampage" | #30 | #2 | - |
1991 | "Give the People" | - | #28 | - |
See also
Notes
- ↑ Benard, James (January 18, 1991). "Business as Usual:Music Review:Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA322&dq=rolling+stone+gang+starr&cd=1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=rakim&f=false. Page 281
- ↑ Village Voice review